Two new positions increase nonprofit affordable housing developer’s capacity to grow its portfolio across Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Oct. 17, 2024 — Ability Housing today announced the expansion of its real estate team through the creation of two new positions. Debra Grise has been appointed as the organization’s Real Estate Development Director and will lead all real estate development efforts; and Jeremy Smith has been promoted to the new Director of Asset Management role and will ensure the ongoing mission-aligned operations of the rental portfolio.
This expansion positions Ability Housing to achieve its goal of developing more than 2,200 units of affordable housing across Florida by 2030 while simultaneously maintaining its portfolio of properties at the highest level. These new appointments, coupled with the recent launch of the nonprofit’s Affordable Housing Fund, demonstrate progress toward a critical goal outlined in the organization’s current strategic plan: to elevate the organization’s workforce and operational capacity for optimal performance.
“It’s important for us to have experts throughout our team who not only understand the scope of work their roles entail, but who also truly understand and believe in our mission,” said Shannon Nazworth, President & CEO of Ability Housing. “With Debra and Jeremy’s leadership, we are even more equipped to address Florida’s housing needs as quickly as we can in a strategic manner. Building new communities and preserving the quality of the ones we already have are equally important to this goal. I am grateful they have chosen to support our mission in building flourishing communities where everyone has a home.”
In her new role as Real Estate Development Director, Grise oversees all phases of real estate development, from project concept through construction completion, and maintains relationships with key stakeholders and partners in governmental, construction and design sectors. Throughout the course of her career, Grise has demonstrated leadership in financial management and development administration for Section 8 and workforce housing. She most recently served as the Chief Development Officer for the Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh, playing a key role in securing a Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant totaling over $50 million and adding 1,200 additional affordable units along with 42 new rehabilitation projects in just over a year. She earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration from Sawyer College and her real estate license from the University of Central Florida. She is also a member of several professional development organizations, including the Institute of Real Estate Management, the Professional Affordable Housing Management Association, the Building Owners and Managers Association and the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando.
As the Director of Asset Management, Smith is responsible for a portfolio of over 800 affordable rental housing units across Florida. Prior to joining Ability Housing as Asset Manager in October 2023, he served as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Five Star Veterans Center, a nonprofit transitional housing facility in Jacksonville. His extensive experience includes service in the United States Marines and a tenure as Director of Supportive Services for a national affordable housing provider, where he managed a multifamily housing portfolio valued at over $450 million and housing more than 15,000 low-income families across 10 states. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Florida and has earned several professional accreditations, including the Series 6/63 (FINRA), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and Asset Management Specialist (AMS). Demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning, he is currently pursuing a Master of Healthcare Administration at the University of North Florida.
For more information on Ability Housing and its growing portfolio of affordable housing communities throughout Florida, visit AbilityHousing.org.
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About Ability Housing:
Ability Housing is an industry-leading not-for-profit multifamily rental housing developer dedicated to creating high-quality affordable housing. We invest in communities through properties that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods, improve each community’s quality of life, and connect residents with a network of voluntary support services.